Tape playing machine



March 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3, 79

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed June 29, 1960 INVENTORS. fidflflswrwe ayou/M11 7m March 31, 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE Original Filed June 29, 1960 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 NV EN TORS F I an Fwifl $150M flz m wmm F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

March 31, 1964 TAPE PLAYING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 29, 1960 @m EN mmm Nm&

March 31, 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE Original Filed June 29, 1960 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR-S March 31, 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 29, 1960 INVENTORS. wi $592726 fi0a/an ZJ1% #2027145 March 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL TAPE PLAYING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed June 29, 1960 IN V EN TORS wflflsbarrze March 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE Original Filed June 29, 1960 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 March 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE Original Filed June 29, 1960 10 ets-S e t 8 Llll.

L INVENTORS edli flaw/vie (av 1701001122 775m March 3 1964 F. H. OSBORNE ETAL 3,127,179

TAPE PLAYING MACHINE Original Filed June 29, 1960 10 e ts-Sheet 10 United States Patent 3,127,179 TAPE PLAYING MACHINE Fred H. Osborne, Snyder, and Howard M. Thomas, North Tonawanda, N.Y., assignors to The Wurlitzer Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Ohio Original application June 29, 1960, Ser. No. 39,493. Divided and this application Apr. 15, 1963, Ser. No.

4 Claims. (Cl. 274-11) The present invention relates to tape playing machines, particularly machines for playing magnetic tape.

This application is a division of pending original application Serial No. 39,493, filed June 29, 1960.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved tape playing machine which operates without attention substantially to continuously play a single tape in a manner which provides for avirtually uninterrupted reproduction of program material recorded on the tape.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a tape playing machine forming the exemplary embodiment of the invention to be described;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the machine showing the tape cartridge support carriage shifted to its elevated indexing level;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view generally similar to FIG. 4 with certain parts broken away for clearness in illustration and showing the tape support carriage lowered to playing position;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken generally along the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken with reference to the irregular line 6-6 in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the automatic tape deck assembly centrally located within the machine;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the tape deck appearing in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view taken with reference to the line 1ll1tl of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the structure appearing in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary elevational view taken with reference to the line 1313 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1515 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of tape cartridge support structure on the tape support carriage;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a typical tape cartridge used with the machine; and

FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic illustration of electrical control circuits used in the machine.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the tape playing machine forming the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings is particularly well adapted, as will presently appear, for use in a background music system to supply a continuous program of music from recordings on tape. The supplying of background music in places of amusement, stores, factories, and in many other environments, has proven to be quite 'ice advantageous and desirable in many instances. To maximize the benefits of such background music it is desirable to change the musical program from time to time to vary the type and tempo of music being played. Thus, after a program of semi-classical music, for example, has been playing for some time, it may be desirable to substitute and continue with a program of popular music, jazz, or music of some other distinct type.

As will be described presently in detail, the machine 39 is designed to receive a plurality of individual tapes, in this instance four, and operates unattended under its own power to supply from any one tape a virtually continuous musical program, while at the same time being responsive to simple command signals or control movements to automatically replace the tape being played with any one of the tapes in the machine to continue the musical program.

In broad outline, the tape playing machine comprises an automatic tape deck 32 centrally located within the machine and adapted, as will presently appear, to provide a virtually uninterrupted program from a single tape which is cyclically reversed in its direction of movement and played continuously as it moves in opposite directions through the tape deck. Moreover, the tape deck 37. is designed to play tapes substantially encased in individual tape holding and playing cartridges 34, FIGS. 1 and 17.

The tape deck 32 defines a single tape playing station identified generally by the number 36, FIGS. 1, 7, and 8, in which individual tapes to be played are placed by operation of the machine 30 in response to simple command signals. As previously intimated, the tape deck 32 operates automatically to play a tape in the attention 36 continuously substantially without interruption of the program played from the tape.

Normally, the machine is loaded with a plurality of tape cartridges 34, in this instance four, demountably supported on a rotatable tape carriage 33 which is operated by the machine to place any one of the cartridges 34 in the tape playing station 36 and to replace any cartridge in the playing station with any other cartridge on the carriage.

A full understanding of the operation of the machine can be more easily obtained with reference to the ensuing description of the construction of the machine which for convenience in presentation will be divided under a number of headings.

The Automatic Tape Deck Centrally located within the machine 36, the tape deck 32 is mounted on a central horizontal plate 4 3, FIGS. 5 and 9, supported by a plurality of standards 42 on a horizontal bottom plate 44- of the support frame 4?. of the machine. The tape to be played, designated in the drawings by the number 4%, FIG. 7, is directed through a tape playing path defined on the tape deck 32 and identified generally by the number 59. As will be explained presently, the carriage 38 has an annular or generally circular shape. The positional relationship of the tape playing path Sh defined by the tape deck 32 to the circular carriage 38 is that of a chord of a circle to the circle. Two cylindrical studs or tape supports 52, 54 fixed to the mounting plate 40 of the tape deck project upwardly alongside the tape path 59, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The supports 52, 54 are located on the carriage side of the tape path and support the tape in the path against movement toward the carriage, as will presently appear.

Tape is moved in opposite directions through the path 50 by means of two rotary tape driving elements or capstans 56, 53, journaled in the mounting plate 48 and projecting upwardly alongside the carriage side of the tape path 5t as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. The driving elements 56, 53 are spaced substantial distances beyond 3 the respective tape supports 52, 54 which are spaced from each other, as shown.

During operation of the tape deck 32, the two driving elements or rollers 56, 58 are continuously rotated in opposite directions by two driving shafts 6t 62 extending downwardly from the respective roller elements, as shown in FIG. 9, and journaled at their lower ends in a lower mounting plate 64 supported in depending relation to the upper mounting plate 41 as shown.

A tape driving motor 66 is connected through a belted transmission 6d, FIGS. 6, to rotate the respective tape driving elements 56, 53 at a uniform speed which provides a peripheral or surface speed of each element equal to the speed, in this instance three and three-fourths inches per second, which tape is to be moved through the path v for playing.

Preferably the tape driving transmission 68 comprises a relatively small pulley 7d, PEG. 4, mounted on the downwardly projecting end of the shaft 72 of the motor 66, which is supported on the underside of the mounting plate 44), as shown. A belt 74 connects the pulley 76} to a larger pulley 76, FIGS. 6 and 15, integrally formed on an inertia fly wheel 7% journaled on a shaft 36 supported between the mounting plates 4th and 64.

The pulley 76 is much larger than the driving pulley 7i and rotates at a greatly reduced speed. A second relatively small pulley 82 formed integrally with the relatively large pulley 76 and vertically spaced above the latter pulley, as shown in FIG. 15, is connected by a belt 84 with a larger pulley S6 nonrotatably mounted on the shaft 62 which rotates the tape driving element 53 A friction wheel 88 integrally formed on the pulley 76 between the latter and the pulley 8 2, as shown in FIG. 15, is engaged by a rubber tired friction Wheel 90 of equal diameter, FIG. 6, swingably supported on an arm 92 and biased into engagement with the wheel 38 by a spring 94. A relatively small pulley 9'6 integrally formed on the upper side of the rubber tired friction wheel 91 as shown in H6. 1, operates through a belt 98 to drive a larger pulley 1W nonrotatably mounted on the drive shaft 6% for the tape driving element 56.

The tape 48 to be played is supported on edge in the path 54) and has at least two laterally spaced recorded channels which are vertically spaced with respect to the tape deck 32. The particular tape deck 32 illustrated 18 designed to reproduce stereophonic sound and the tape used has four sound tracks, two of which are played as the tape is moved in one direction through the path 50 and two of which are played as the tape is moved in the other direction through the path, as will presently appear.

The tape moved through the path 55,} is played through two horizontally spaced pickups or pickup heads m2, 164, FIGS. 1, 7 and 9, mounted on the sides of the tape path 511 opposite from the supports 52, 54 for shifting movement, as will presently appear, from retracted, tape releasing positions to advanced, tape playing positions immediately adjacent the path 519. The two pickups 1112,

1194 are spaced from each other so that when advanced into tape playing positions, as shown in FIG. 7, the pickup 1612 occupies an intervening position between the support 52 and the tape driving element 56. Similarly, the pickup 194 is situated between the support 54 and the driving element 53.

Both pickups 1112, 1, 14 are mounted on a generally rectangular slide plate 1'36 supported on the mounting plate 413 for translation between guides 1118, 110 between a retracted tape releasing position, in which the pickups 192, 1114 are spaced from the path 511, and a tape playing position in which the slide is advanced toward the tape path.

The slide 111-6 also carries electrically operated controls which control the direction of movement of the tape through the path 56' in a manner which provides for substantially instantaneous reversal of the direction of movement of the tape as the opposite ends of the tape are approached in the course of playing the tape.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, two platen rollers 112, 114 are journaled on the tape ends of two swingable levers 116, 118 medially supported on two pivots 121i, 122 on the slide 1116. The opposite ends of the levers 116, 118 connect with the two two-direction control solenoids 1 24, 126 which operate respectively to swing the respective levers 116, 118 in directions which move the platen rollers 112, 114 toward the tape driving elements 56 and 58 to firmly engage tape in the path 50 and force the tape hard against the respective driving elements. As will be described presently in detail, both the levers 116, 118 are spring urged to swing the respective rollers 112, 114 away from the driving elements 56, 58 to allow the tape to move freely between the platen rollers and driving elements without substantial frictional engagement with either driving element.

The levers 116, 118 are operated by the solenoids 112, 126 and interconnected with each other in a fashion such that only one of the rollers 112, 114 is advanced into its tape engaging position at a time. Moreover, a platen roller, previously engaged with the tape to hold the tape firmly against the tape driving element, is released and retracted from the tape path automatically as an incident to the advancement of the other platen roller to an operative position. Thus, energization of the solenoid 124, for example, swings the lever 116 in a clockwise direction with reference to FIG. 7, to cause the roller 112 to force tape firmly against the driving element 56, which operates to move the tape 48 to the left through the path 50. A spring latch 128 engages the solenoid end of the lever 116 to hold the roller 112 firmly in its operative position. The solenoid 124 is deenergized after having moved the lever into the operative position in which it is latched.

As will be described presently, a tape reversing switch 130 is operated automatically as an incident to substantial completion of movement of the full effective length of the tape 43 in one direction through the path 50. The reversing switch 130 operates through reversing structure to be described to energize the other solenoid 126 to swing the lever 113 in a counterclockwise direction with reference to FIG. 7, to force the tape firmly against the other driving element 58, which operates to pull the tape in the opposite direction through the path 50. A link 132 connected to the lever 118 extends into coacting relation to the previously mentioned latch 128 to release the lever 116 to effect automatic retraction of the platen roller 112 to inoperative position substantially simultaneously with movement of the platen roller 114 into operative position.

After the effective length of the tape has been run through the path 51) in the other direction, a second reversing switch 134, FIG. 7, is closed, as will be described, to effect energization of the solenoid 124 to again reverse the direction of movement of tape through the path 519. It should be noted that a latch 136, similar to the latch 12%, coacts with the lever 118 to hold the latter in its operative or advanced position. Swinging of the other lever 116 into advanced position, to again reverse the direction of the tape as recited, operates a link 138 to release the latch 136 to automatically effect disengagement of the roller 114 from the tape.

The tape moving through the path 50 is removed from a coacting one of the tape cartridges 34 and immediately returned to the cartridge which contains two rotary tape 7 reels 146, 142, FIG. 17. The reel from which tape is being removed is rotated by the tension applied to the tape by the active one of the tape driving elements 56, 58. The other reel is rotated to take up the tape by a coacting tape rewind drive on the tape deck 32. Preferably, two separate rewind drives 144 and 146 are provided for the respective tape reels. The two rewind drives 144, 146 are horizontally spaced from each other across the front of the tape deck 32, as shown in FIG. 7. The two drives are formed substantially as mirror images of each other, the drive 146, for example, comprising an electric motor 148, FIG. 5, connected through a worm 150 and worm gear 152 with a shaft 154 which drives a rubber tired friction wheel 156 in a given direction. Similarly, the drive 144 operates to drive a rubber tired friction drive wheel 158 in a direction of rotation opposite to that of the wheel 156.

Upon operation of the carriage 38 to bring one of the cartridges 34 into playing position, as will presently appear, the rewind driving wheels 156, 158 have an effective alinement with two rubber tired driven wheels 1160, 162, journaled on the carriage 38 in driving relation to the respective reels 142, 141) of the coacting cartridge, as will presently appear.

Energization of the respective drives 144, 146 and effective connection of the friction driving wheels 158, 156 with the coacting driven wheels 162, 160 is controlled automatically as an incident to operation of the reversing solenoids 124, 126. Thus, energization of the solenoid 126 to effect movement of tape to the right, FIG. 7, through the path 511 causes a lug 164 on the link 132 to close switch means 166 which energizes the driving motor 148 for the drive 146. Similarly, energization of the solenoid 124 to effect movement of the tape through the path 541 in the opposite direction causes a lug 168 on the link 136 to operate switch means 178 for energizing the driving motor for the other drive 158.

Rotary motion of the driving wheel 158 is transmitted to the coacting driven wheel 162, FIG. 7, through a retractable small diameter idler wheel 172 which is automatically extended into engagement with both the wheels 158, 162 as an incident to swinging of the arm 116 into operative position. As shown in F165. 7 and 8, the idler roller 172 is carried by a slide 174 which is engaged by a blade 176 on a depending car 178 of the arm 116 to shift the roller 172 into engagement with the Wheels 160, 162 as the lever 116 swings into an operative position for effecting movement of the tape to the left through the path 51). A tension spring 186 connected between a guide stud 182 and the roller slide 174, as shown in FIG. 8, urges both the roller 172 and the lever 116 to retracted inoperative positions.

In a similar manner, the driving wheel 15-6 is drivingly connected to the wheel 161) through a retractable idler roller 184 carried by a slide 186 which is forced into operative position by a blade 188 on the lever 118 and retracted by a spring 191 which urges both the roller 184 and the lever 118 toward inoperative positions.

It should also be noted that the slide 106 which supports the platen carrying arms 116, 118 and the pickups 182, 1134 also carries a tape support and guide element 192, located between the pickups 102, 104, which engages the tape to hold the tape at the desired vertical level with respect to the pickups 102, 104.

These pickups 1112, 184 are effectively displaced vertically with respect to each other so that the pickup 1112 effectively plays two stereophonic channels of the tape as it moves in one direction through the path 50, and the pickup 1114 effectively plays other stereophonic channels of the tape as it moves in the opposite direction through the path 50.

As will be described later in greater detail, the two pickups 102, 194 are selectively switched into and out of selected playing circuits by switches included in the respective switch means 166, 170 previously described. Thus, each of the switch means 166, 170 comprises a double pole switch, as shown, which controls one of the pickups as well as one of the rewind drives 144 146, as described.

As previously intimated, the slide 105 which supports the pickups 102, 104 and platen rollers 112, 114 is urged forwardly to a normal tape playing position by means of a tension spring 194, FIG. 7. When a tape in the path 50 is to be replaced with a different tape, the slide 106 is retracted from its tape playing position by energization of a retractor solenoid 196. This separates the tape engaging elements on opposite sides of the path 50'to provide for easy replacement of the tape inthe path. Retraction of the slide 106 operates switch means 198 toplace a resistor (not shown) in series with the solenoid 196 to reduce the current flow through the solenoid to a value just sufficient to hold the slide 106 in retracted position until substitution of a new tape into playing position has been completed, as will presently appear.

Tape Cartridge Support Carriage structurally, the tape cartridge support carriage 38, previously mentioned, comprises an annular plate 200 which provides support for four circumferentially spaced tape mounts 202, of identical construction, which are adapted to receive individual tape cartridges 34 of standard construction.

The plate is guided for rotation about its own axis by means of four notched guide rollers 204 which engage the periphery of the plate 2% in substantially equally spaced relation to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5. The respective guide rollers 2194 are nonrotatably fixed to the upper ends of four rotary guide stems 206 slidably mounted in bearings 268 in four circumferentially spaced support brackets 210, 212, 214 and 216, which extend upwardly from the base plate 44.

Each cartridge mount 262 comprises two spaced reel driving shafts 218, 220, FIGS. 1 and 16, journaled in circumferentially spaced relation to each other in support bearings 222, 224 mounted on the plate 200. The upper ends of the respective shafts 218, 2241 carry discs, 226, 228 adapted to underlie the reels 140, 142 of a tape cartridge 34 placed on the mount. Rotation of the reels 140, 142 is effected through driving tangs 231 2:32 projecting upwardly from the respective discs 226, 228. The previously mentioned rubber tired driven wheels 162, are nonrotatably connected to the respective driving shafts 218, 220, to rotate the shafts with the driving wheels in opposite directions.

A frictional drag is applied to both reel shafts 218, 220 to prevent over-running of the tape reel from which the tape is being removed. A brake 234 applied to the shaft 218 for this purpose comprises a pair of opposed brake arms 236, 238 engaging opposite sides of the shaft 218. The opposed arms are urged toward each other to apply a braking force to the shaft by means of a compression spring 240 which can be adjusted by a screw 242 extending through the arm 236 into threaded engagement with the arm 238 to vary the degree of braking force. The arms 236, 238 are anchored against rotary movement by a pin 244 extending into the outer end of the arm 238, as shown in FIG. 16. A brake 246 coacting with the shaft 221) is similar in construction to the brake 234 on the shaft 218.

A tape cartridge 34 is demountably supported in coacting relation with the shafts 218, 220 by means of a bracket 248 fixed to the upper side of the annular plate 200, as shown in FIG. 16. The bracket 248 includes a central car 252 projecting radially outward from the plate 280 and supporting an upwardly extending locating pin 254 adapted to fit into a coacting cartridge 34. Three cantilever spring detents 256, 258 and 260 fixed to the bracket 248 project upwardly from the bracket to engage and releasably hold a coacting tape cartridge 34 in its mounted position on the carrier 33.

Carriage Transfer Means The previously mentioned guide rollers 204 supported on the axially movable shafts 2G6 allow the carriage 38 to move vertically upward from its normal tape playing level, shown in FIG. 3, to an elevated indexing level, shown in FIG. 5, while at the same time continuously holding the carriage in concentric relation to a predetermined axis of rotation of the carriage and providing for free rotary movement of the carriage with respect to its axis ofrotation.

The carriage thus guided is shifted from its tape playing level up to its elevated indexing level, rotated about its own axis to bring a desired one of the cartridges 34 on the carriage into rotary alinement with the tape playing station 36 of the tape deck 32, and lowered vertically downward to its tape playing level to bring a new tape into playing position, all in response to controlled rotary movement of an annular transfer element rotatably supported in underlying relation to the carriage and designated generally by the number 262.

As shown in FlGS. 3, S and 6, the annular transfer element 262 comprises a flat annular base plate 264 supported for rotation on four rollers 266 journaled on four circumferentially spaced pillow blocks 26%; on the bottom plate 44 of themachine. The annular plate 264 is guided for rotation in concentric relation to its axis of rotation by means of three guide wheels 27s, FIG. 6, supported on the bottom plate 44 and engaging the inner periphery of the plate 264-.

The transfer element 262 is rotated in opposite directions, as will presently appear, by means of a reversible electric motor 272, FIG. 1, connected through a speed reducing transmission 274 with a pinion 276 which meshes with a ring gear 273 formed on the periphery of the annular plate or disk 264.

The carriage 38 is supported on the transfer element 262 by means of three rollers 28% journaled, as shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, on the lower ends of three circumferentially spaced roller brackets 2232 fixed to and depending downwardly from a cylindrical skirt 2-84 secured to the lower side of the carriage plate 260.

The three circumferentially spaced support rollers 28% overlie the upper edge of a short cylindrical support element 286 fixed to and projecting upwardly from the upper face of the annular disk 264 of the transfer element 262. Vertical translation of the carriage 38 is effected by coaction of the rollers 280 with three circumferentially spaced arcuate cam plates 28$ supported on edge on the upper face of the transfer plate 264 and secured to the adjacent outer surface of the cylindrical element 286. The three cam plates 238 are identical.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper edge of a typical cam plate 288 defines an upwardly sloping cam surface or track 290 which merges at its lower end with the upper edge of the cylindrical element 286. The cam surfaces 290 rise upwardly in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from above. The upper end of the cam surface 290 on each cam plate joins a roller receiving recess or pocket 292 formed in the cam plate immediately adjacent an integral abutment 294 on the cam plate which projects above the side of the recess 232 opposite from the cam track 290.

To lift the carriage 38 from its playing position to its elevated indexing position, the carriage is held against rotation while the transfer element 262 is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed from above. This brings the cam track 294} into engagement with the rollers 280 to force the carriage to its indexing level where the rollers 280 move into the recesses 292 and engage the abutment 294 on the cam plate. At this time, the carriage 38 is automatically released, as will be explained presently, to rotate with the transfer element 262, the rollers 258 resting in the recesses or saddles 292.

Rotary movement of the desired tape cartridge 34 into rotary alinement with the tape playing station 36 is electrically sensed by control means to be described which operates to reverse the direction of rotation of the trans fer element 262 Stop means to be described coacts with the carriage 38 to hold the latter against reverse rotation from the desired index position, whereupon continued rotation of the transfer element 262 causes the support rollers 2% to move out of the recesses 292 and down the cam trao'ks 294, to progressively lower the carriage to its playing level where it is supported byencylindrical element 236.

Indexing Control Structure The carriage 38 is held in its several indexing positions and guided for vertical movement between its playing level and its indexing level by means of four vertical, outwardly facing brackets 3'34) fixed to and depending from the projecting ears 252 on the respective carriage; brackets 248, FIGS. 3, 10, 11 and 16, The rotary move ment of one of the cartridge holders 232 into rotary alinement with the tape playing station 36 brings the coacting guide channel 3% on the carriage into rotary alinement with a vertical guide slide 3-02 supported on a bracket 304 for vertical movement, as will presently appear, between a raised position and a lowered carriage releasing position. During rotary indexing movement of the carriage 38, the guide slide 302 occupies its 'lowered position, shown in FIG. 10, where the slide is cleared by the moving guide channels 300'.

As the carriage 3-8 is rotated in its indexing direction, the lower ends of the depending channels 300 move into engagement with the upper end of a medially pivoted, one-way stop dog 306 and pivot the dog in a counterclockwise direction with reference to FIG. 10 against a spring 308.

Movement of the desired one of the four cartridges 34 on the carriage into rotary alinement with the tape playing station 36 is sensed by one of four carriage position sensing switches 31%, 312, 314 and 316 supported on a bracket 318 alongside the slide 332, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 13. The actuated carriage position sensing switch operates through circuits to be described to effect reverse movement of the transfer element 262.

The reversal of the direction of the rotary movement of the element 262 is timed so that the leading edge 3%, FIG. 10, of the channel 300, corresponding to the selected cartridge 34, passes beyond the upper end of the locking dog 306, allowing the dog to snap into the channel.

Simultaneously with reversal of the direction of movement of the transfer element 262, a solenoid 322, FIG. 10, is energized and operates through a lever 324 to urge the slide 332 upwardly against the yieldable force of a spring 326.

The one-way dog 306 acts against the channel edge 320 to stop reverse movement of the carriage 38 when the channel edge 320 is alined with the corresponding side edge of the slide 302. As soon as the trailing edge 328 of the channel 360 clears the corresponding edge of the slide 302, the slide immediately moves upwardly into the channel to hold it in its indexed position.

Continued reverse rotary movement of the transfer element 262 operates, as previously described, to lower the carriage 38 to its playing position, bringing the exposed medial portion of the tape in the selected cartridge 34 down into the tape path 50 on the tape deck 32.

After the carriage 38 has been completely lowered to its playing position, one of four equally spaced switch actuating blocks 330 secured to the underside of the transfer element disk 264 operates a normally closed switch 332 on the floor plate 44,'FIG. 6, to deenergize the motor 2'72 and stop rotation of the transfer element 262.

To select another tape cartridge for playing it is necessary merely to rotate a control knob 34% to a select position corresponding to the desired tape. Control circuits, to be described in'detail, respond to positioning of the knob 340 to energize the motor 272 to rotate the transfer element 262 in an indexing direction and to activate one of the carriage position sensing switches 310 to 316. As the transfer element 262 starts to rotate in the clockwise direction, with reference to FIG. 6, one of the switch operators 330 attached to the lower side of the transfer element and having substantial arcuate length engages a normally open switch 342 to energize the solenoid 322 to again project the guide slide 302 to its uppermost position. It should be mentioned here that the solenoid 322 was previously deenergized simultaneously with deenergization of the motor 272 at the conclusion of the previous indexing cycle.

As the carriage 38 reaches its indexing level where the rollers 23@ move into the saddles 292, the active switch operator 330 previously engaged with the switch 342 moves out of engagement with the switch 342 to deenergize the solenoid 322, whereupon the slide 302 is pulled downwardly out of the coacting channel 3th) to release the carriage for rotation, as described.

Each of the vertical channels 300 on the carriage 38 carries a radially projecting switch actuating arm 343 for actuating a corresponding one of the position sensing switches 310 to 316 as the channel moves into its indexed position. The arms 343 of the respective channels 30% are differentially spaced vertically from each other to correspond to and operate the respective vertically spaced switches 313, 316 to produce the previously described reversal of the direction of rotary movement of the transfer member 252. It is also noteworthy that control circuitry to be described responds to operation of the selector knob 34% to energize the solenoid 196 on the tape deck 32 to retract the slide 136 simultaneously with energization of the motor 272, to start rotation of the indexing element 262. Lifting of the carriage 38 allows a double pole switch 350 to close to continue energization of the slide retracting solenoid 1%. The switch 350 is automatically opened by a coacting one of the channels 330 as the carriage 33 is lowered and is lowered, as recited, upon lifting of the carriage. However, upon sub sequent lowering of the carriage 38 and opening of the switch 350, energization of the slide retracting solenoid 196 is continued until the previously mentioned switch 332 is opened to deenergize the transfer motor 272.

Further, in relation to the automatic operation of the tape deck 32, it will be noted, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 16, that two tape reversing control arms 352, 354 are pivotally mounted on the carriage plate 200 at each of the cartridge stations 220. The arms are individually urged to retracted positions by tension springs 356, 358.

Upon lowering of the carriage 33 into playing position, the control arms 352, 354 corresponding to the cartridge in playing position oppose the previously described reversing switches, 130, 134 on the tape deck. Segments of the tape issuing from the respective reels 140, 142 of the cartridge being played are trained around upwardly protruding projections 364i 362 on the adjacent control arms in such fashion that the inducement of abnormal tension in the tape moving around one of the projections causes the coacting control arm to swing toward the tape deck and cooperate with the coacting reversing switch, to reverse the movement of the tape through the tape deck.

This tightening of the tape occurs as each end of the tape is reached and effects an immediate reversal of the tape movement to continue the program without interruption, as described.

Electrical Control Circuits The electrical control circuits used in the machine are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 18. As shown, operating power is supplied through a grounded power line 370, a 24 volt AC. power line 372 and a 14 volt D.C. line 374.

The previously mentioned selector knob 34% is connected to swing a movable contact 376 from a starting or on position, shown in FIG. 18, across a series of contacts 373. The movable contact 376 is connected to the DC power line 374. Starting with the contact immediately adjacent the off position of the contact 375, alternate ones of the contacts 378 are connected through a conductor 38% to energize a grounded relay 382. The alternate contacts 378 not connected with the relay conductor 380 are connected, respectively, to the previously mentioned carriage position sensing switches 310, 3K2, 314, 316.

Hence, in moving from its ofl? position into engagement with any one of the contacts 378 connected with one of the sensing switches 313 to 316, or in moving from one to the other of the contacts 378 connected to the sensing switches, the movable contact 376 must momentarily engage one of the contacts 378 connected to the relay energizing conductor 3%.

Hence, operation or" the knob 340 to effect selection of a tape for playing necessarily energizes the relay 332 which controls a holding switch 332-1 to continue energization of the relay 382 through a normally closed dropout switch 334.

As shown in FIG. 6, the drop-out switch 384 is supported on the bottom plate 44 of the machine and is opened shortly after the transfer element 262 starts to rotate by one of four circumferentially spaced switch actuating elements 336 extending upwardly from the transfer plate 264. This, of course, deenergizes the relay 332. However, before this happens, the relay switch 332-2 is closed to energize a motor start relay 383, FIG. 18. The relay 383 closes a holding switch 383-1 to continue encrgization of the relay 3% through a nomally closed relay switch 333-1 connected to the power line .374.

The relay 388 also closes a switch 333-2 to energize one winding 392 of the indexing motor 272 to drive the indexing element 262 in the forward direction.

The initially energized indexing relay 382 also closes a switch 382-3 to energize a retractor control relay 394. The relay 3% closes a switch 394-1 to energize the slide retracting solenoid 1% on the tape deck 32 to release the tape from the path 53, as described. The relay 334 also closes a holding contact 334-2 which connects the relay 394 to a conductor 3% connected to the power line 374, through a normally open relay switch Shit-2 and one pole of the previously mentioned switch 353, FIG. 6, which is designated in FIG. 16 as 3550-1.

The relationships of the mechanical parts are such that by the time the drop-out switch 3-84 has been operated, by rotation of the transfer element 262, to effect opening of the switch 382-3, the carriage 33 will have risen sulficiently to effect closing of the normally open switch 353-1 to continue energization of the retractor control relay 394. This operates to continue energization of the retractor solenoid 196 during an indexing cycle, as previously described.

Initial energization of the index relay 332 also closes a switch 382-4 to supply power to one side of the previously mentioned index solenoid control switch 342, the other side of which is connected to energize the solenoid 322. The relay switch 382-4 remains closed while the switch 342 is temporarily closed mechanically by a coacting actuator 3349, FIG. 6, as described, to hold the carriage 33 against rotation until it has reached its indexing level.

As shown in FIG. 18, the output sides of all of the carriage position sensing switches 3149, 312, 314 and 316 are connected to energize a reversing relay 3%. Hence, upon closure of the position sensing switch which is energized through the knob control contact 376, which occurs when the desired tape cartridge has reached its indexed position, the reversing switch 39% operates to open the normally closed relay switch 391-2, previously mentioned.

This discontinues energization of the motor start relay 388, allowing the switch 383-2 to open and stop forward rotation of the transfer element 262.

At the same time, the relay 3% closes a motor reversing switch 399-3 to energize the reverse winding 43%? of the motor 272.

Relay switch 390-4 closes to continue energization of the relay 3% through the previously mentioned, normally closed table stop switch 332. It will be recalled that the switch 332 is mechanically opened by rotation of the transfer element 262 at the completion of an indexing cycle.

It serves to deenergize the relay 3% and stop the motor 272. Energization of the relay 39th closes the previously mentioned relay switch 3%2, to continue energization of the slide retracting solenoid 1% subsequent to opening of the switch 35tl-i. Hence, deenergization of the solenoid 3% deenergizes the slide retracting solenoid 1% simultaneously with stopping of the motor 272.

Also, energization of the reversing solenoid 3% closes a switch 39tl-5 to reenergize the solenoid 322 to move the slide 39.2, FIG. 10, upwardly until the reverse movement of the motor 272 is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 18, the two reversing switches 13%), 134 are connected to energize the respective reversing solenoids 126, 124 on the tape deck. The switches 165, 1743 operated by the solenoids 126, 124, as previously described, control energization of the tape take-up drives 146, 144, and control relays 420, 422 to effect selective connection of the pickups N4 and 162 to output conductors 4-24. A switch 3d2 forming one pole of the switching means 35h is interconnected with the reversing solenoid 126 to energize the latter as an incident to litting of the carriage 36 to precondition the tape deck to start movement of the tape to the right, which reference to FIG. 7, after a new tape has been moved into playing position.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to use of the particular construction illustrated, but includes variants and alternatives within the spirit and scope of the claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An automatic tape deck for continuously playing substantially without interruption a tape supported in coacting relation to the tape deck, comprising, in combination, means defining a path for tape to be played, pickup means positioned alongside said path, two tape driving elements positioned alongside said path for moving tape in opposite directions therethrough, two retractable tape backup elements coacting with said respective driving elements to move tape into operative engagement therewith for driving thereby, means biasing said respective backup elements into inoperative positions, two direction control solenoids coacting with said respective backup elements to advance the latter into operative positions, holding means coacting with said respective backup elements to hold the latter in said operative positions, means for operating said holding means to effect automatically as an incident to movement of either of the backup elements into its operative position an automatic release of the other backup element from its operative position, and means for energizing said solenoids alternately to effect substantially continuous movement of tape through said path.

2. An automatic tape deck for continuously playing substantially without interruption a tape supported in coacting relation to the tape deck, comprising, in combination, means defining a path for tape to be played, two pickup heads positioned alongside said path and effective ly displaced from each other laterally with respect to said path to have effective alignment with different recording channels on tape located in said path, two rotary tape driving elements mounted alongside said path for pulling tape in opposite directions therethrough, two retractable platen elements coacting with said respective driving elements to move tape into operative engagement therewith for movement thereby, means biasing said respective platen elements into inoperative positions, two direction control solenoids coacting with said respective platen elements to advance the latter into operative positions, two latches coacting with said respective platen elements to hold the latter in said operative positions, means interconnecting each platen element with the latch or the other i2 platen element to etfect automatically as an incident to movement of either of the platen elements into its operative position an automatic release of the other platen element from its operative position, and tape sensing means coacting with said solenoids to controllably energize the latter to effect substantially continuous movement of tape through said path with alternate reversals in the direction of tape movement.

3, In an automatic tape deck for efiecting a substantially continuous playing of a tape with cyclic reversals in the direction of movement of the tape and effective playing of the tape as it moves in each direction, means defining a path for tape to be played, two rotary tape moving elements mounted on one side of said path to move tape in opposite directions therethrough, tape support means on said one side of said path, a slide supported for lateral movement with respect to said path, two retractable platen elements supported on said slide for movement therewith, two tape playing pickup heads supported on said slide in opposing relation to said path and being effectively displaced laterally with respect to said path for alignment with different channels of tape in said path, said platen elements and said pickup heads being located on the side of said path opposite from said tape driving elements, biasing means urging said slide to carry said platen elements and said pickup heads toward said path to tape playing positions, a solenoid coacting with said slide to retract the latter to a tape exchanging position, biasing means coacting with said platen elements to retract the latter away from said tape moving elements, two tape direction control solenoids coacting with said respective platen elements to move the latter to extended positions to hold tape against said respective tape moving elements when said slide is in its playing position, two latches coacting with said respective platen elements to hold the latter in extended positions, and means interconnecting each platen element with the latch of the other platen element to effect as an incident to movement of either of the platen elements to its extended position an automatic release of the other platen element for retraction by said platen element biasing means.

4. In an automatic tape deck for effecting a substan tially continuous playing of a tape with cyclic reversals in the direction of movement of the tape and effective playing of the tape as it moves in each direction, means defining a path for tape to be played, two tape moving elements positioned along one side of said path to move tape in opposite directions therethrough, a slide supported for lateral movement with respect to said path, two retractable tape backup elements supported on said slide for movement therewith, pickup means supported on said slide alongside said path, means urging said slide to a playing position to carry said backup elements and said pickup means toward said path to tape playing positions, a solenoid coacting with said slide to retract the latter to a tape exchanging position, biasing means coacting with said backup elements to retract the latter away from said tape moving elements, two tape direction control solenoids coacting with said respective backup elements to extend the latter to hold tape against said respective tape moving elements when said slide is in its playing position, holding means coacting with said respective backup elements to hold the latter in the extended positions thereof, and means interconnecting each backup element with said holding means to effect as an incident to movement of either backup elements to its extended position an automatic release of the other backup element for retraction by said backup element biasing means.

No references cited. 

1. AN AUTOMATIC TAPE DECK FOR CONTINUOUSLY PLAYING SUBSTANTIALLY WITHOUT INTERRUPTION A TAPE SUPPORTED IN COACTING RELATION TO THE TAPE DECK, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, MEANS DEFINING A PATH FOR TAPE TO BE PLAYED, PICKUP MEANS POSITIONED ALONGSIDE SAID PATH, TWO TAPE DRIVING ELEMENTS POSITIONED ALONGSIDE SAID PATH FOR MOVING TAPE IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS THERETHROUGH, TWO RETRACTABLE TAPE BACKUP ELEMENTS COACTING WITH SAID RESPECTIVE DRIVING ELEMENTS TO MOVE TAPE INTO OPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH FOR DRIVING THEREBY, MEANS BIASING SAID RESPECTIVE BACKUP ELEMENTS INTO INOPERATIVE POSITIONS, TWO DIRECTION CONTROL SOLENOIDS COACTING WITH SAID RESPECTIVE BACKUP ELEMENTS TO ADVANCE THE LATTER INTO OPERATIVE POSITIONS, HOLDING MEANS COACTING WITH SAID RESPECTIVE BACKUP ELEMENTS TO HOLD THE LATTER IN SAID OPERATIVE POSITIONS, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID HOLDING MEANS TO EFFECT AUTOMATICALLY AS AN INCIDENT TO MOVEMENT OF EITHER OF THE BACKUP ELEMENTS INTO ITS OPERATIVE POSITION AN AUTOMATIC RELEASE OF THE OTHER BACKUP ELEMENT FROM ITS OPERATIVE POSITION, AND MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID SOLENOIDS ALTERNATELY TO EFFECT SUBSTANTIALLY CONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF TAPE THROUGH SAID PATH. 